with the startling word from nato and now even president assad's staunch ally russia, that the brutal dictator's days are numbered. that's because while assad is still in control in the capital, rebels are moving closer. now, just outside in the suburbs. our bbc colleague jeremy bowen saw it first hand, in a neighborhood where assad's forces have tried to stop the rebel advance, pounding the buildings and homes with air strikes and artillery. the battle is bloody. at the regime's military hospital, there are said to be 40 wounded, treated a day. while the rebels, like this fighter who lost both feet, received treatment from a dentist. their hospital, bombed. >> the rebels have shown that they have the stomach for a fight. they've shown that they can endure pain. and they have the conviction that if they don't fight on, they'll be killed. >> reporter: bowen met some 200 of their recruits, training at an army base they said they captured. >> what do you think will happen to assad? >> killed. must be killed. >> reporter: but who exactly are these rebels? the fighter says his group is not